Folding table



Sept. 13, 1932.

c. M. FLINK ET AL- 1,877,654

FOLDING TABLE Filed May 26, 1931 I 2 SheetsSheet l iNVENTOR Caz-Zes M..Z Qink BY John Olson WITNESSES ATTORNEYS Viv.

, p 3, 19 c. M. FUNK ET AL ,877 65 FOLDING TABLE Fi1ed- May 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v LI 1% L INVENTORS WITNESSES? f v Charles M. rank BY CTO/Ln Olson m I V ATTORNE YS Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES CHARLES M. FLINK AND JOHN OLSON, OF IBONWOOID, MICHIGAN FOLDING TABLE App1ication filed May 26, 1931. Serial No. 540,123.

This invention relates to a folding table and has for an object to provide an im roved construction wherein the parts are so ormed that the table may be quickly and easily .6 folded or unfolded by a single person Another object is to provide a table which may be folded or unfolded readily and which may be utilized as a card table or as a table to be used on picnics and the like.

A further object, more specifically, is to provide a table with aflexible top with reinforcing members therebeneath and folding stiffening frame associated with folding legs, the structure being so arranged that it may be folded into a very compact bundle and quickly unfolded and set up without the use of tools or any removable member.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1'is a perspective view of a table disclosing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through Figure 1 on line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 2 approximately on line 33.

Figure 4 is a partly inverted perspective view of one corner of the table with certain parts broken away.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the table shown in Figure 1, the same being on an enlarged scale.

, Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the table partly collapsed or folded.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showlng the table completely folded.

Referring to theaccompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the top and 2 a frame supporting the top, said frame in turn being supported by the various legs 3, 4, 5 and 6.

'40 When the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 1, the table presents a rigid structure and one that is amply strong to support a reasonable load. Whenever desired, the

table may be quickly folded to a nested position as shown in Figure 7 without the use of tools and without adding or removing anything.

The top 1 consists of a flexible covering member 7 which may be canvas or other cloth,

and to this covering member is secured by adhesive or other means stiffening bars-80f wood or other material. At each end of the table, the covering member extends downwardly and forms depending sections 9 and 10 which are connected to the side frame bars 2 by adhesive or other means, and over these sections are arranged ornamental strips 11 and 12. These strips are preferably of wood and are held in place by nails, screws or other means which extend through sections 9 and 10 and into the bars 2. In this way, the top 1 is rigidly connected to the frame 2. The canvas covering 7 at each end is bent over as indicated at 13 and 14 in Figure 6, said bent over portions being preferably held in place by adhesive. In this way, the ends of the reinforcing bars 8 and also the bracing bar 15 are covered. The bracing bar 15 is preferablythicker than the other bars but is cut away at the ends for forming re- 7 duced portions 16 and 17 extending to the end of the cover 7 and also for producing shoulders 18 and 19' against which the abutting ends'of the articulated end bars 20 and 21 press when the table is unfolded, 7 5" or in a set up condition as illustrated in Figures 1 and 5.

It will be noted from Figures 5, 6 and 7 that'the respective end bars 20 and 21 are connected centrally by the hinges. 22 and g0 23 and at their ends to the side bars 2 by hinges 24, 25, 26 and 27 As these hinges are idenltiical, the description of one will apply to a I i As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the hinge 5 26 is provided with leaves 28 and 29, leaf 29 having barrels or knuckles .30 and 31, while the leaf 28 has a turned-over portion 32 acting as a central knuckle whereby the pintle '33 may extend through the three knuckles and connect the leaves together. FromFigure 3 it will be noted that the leaf 28 extends beyond the corner and forms the extension 34: which coacts with the extending portion 35 of plate 36. Theextensions '84 and 35 form a socket in which the lower end of the post 6 fits when in operative position. Leaf 29 is connected to one of the sections 21 and said section is provided with an overlappingextension 37 which fits against plate 36, post 6 and against the extension 34 whereby post 6 is locked firmly in position and the sections 21 are firmly locked in position by the shoulder 19. At each corner, an identical structure is present so that the parts may be readily folded or unfolded without the use of tools or withoutadding or removing anything. 7

Whenthe table is set up or in operative position as shown in Figure 5 and it is de' sired to collapse the same, the respective sections 20 and 21 are pulled away from the bracing bar 15 or upwardly when the table is inverted. This is only a short movement and as soon as it has been pulled upwardly slightly, the sections may then be moved to the position shown in Figure 6. This movement is continued until the legs are completely released and then these legs are swung downwardly against the side frame bars 2 as shown in Figure 7. A cord may then be tied around the collapsed structure as illustrated in Figure 7 and it will be held in this position until it is to'be used again. In this way, it may be transported in an automobile or stored out of the way. By providing the canvas covering 7 a flexible top is presented whereby the table may be readily collapsed but by the use of the bars 8 the canvas cover 7 is reinforced and stiffened so as to present an almost rigid top when in use, though the spacing of the bars 8 permits ready collapsing of the parts.

In formin the hinges and respective plates 36, each of the leaves 28 and each plate 36 is provided with an L-shaped or depending extension 38 and through each pair of these extensions is arranged a pin 39 whereby the respective legs are pivotally connected to the frame. In the respective corners, identical structures are formed, the same being as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4:.

We claim:

1. A folding table including a top, a frame for supporting the top, said frame having side bars and end bars, a plurality of legs and means for connecting said legs with the frame, said means including a hinge at each corner of the frame for connecting the ends and sides of the frame together, each of said hinges having a downwardly extending projection, a plate adjacent each hinge having a downwardly extending projection, a pin extending through the respective projections and the respective legs for pivotally connecting the'legs to said projection, said legs overlapping the side bars of said frame, the end bars of said frame being movable to cause a part thereof to overlap the end of said legs whereby the legs are clamped in position when the end bars of the frame are in operative position.-

2. A folding table including a folding top, a frame for supporting the top, pivotally legs being foldable against the bars of the frame, said frame being provided with a pair of end bars, each end bar being divided into two sections, a hinge for each end bar for connecting the respective sections together, hinge members for connecting the end bars to the side bars, each of said sections being notched adjacent the point where they are hingedly connected together, a bracing bar connected with said top and extending for substantially the full length thereof, said bracing bar having a shoulder adjacent each end positioned to fit against said end bars when the same are in operative position while the notch thereon straddles certain parts of the bracing bar.

' 3. A folding table including a flexible top, a frame for supporting said flexible top, and legs for supporting said frame, said frame having end bars, each end bar being divided into two sections, said end bars at each end being hingedly connected with the side bars of the frame and at the center being hingedly connected together whereby the side bars may be moved toward each other for collapsing the table when the sections of the end bars are swung together, and a bracing bar connected to said top provided with a shoulder adjacent each end positioned to be engaged by said end bars at their central connection whereby the end bars are held against accidental independent movement.

CHARLES M. FLINK. JOHN OLSON.

mounted legs carried by said frame, said 

